On Friday 28 September, a powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake hit the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. Shortly after, a deadly tsunami tore through the region, flattening everything in its path and turning thousands of homes to rubble.

At the community council meeting this week, those present heard from police that a fire engine, on the way to a fire, had been obstructed by parked cars in Allendale Gardens which, we were told, had not left sufficient room for emergency vehicle access.